Barley tea is generally considered safe during pregnancy. It’s naturally caffeine-free, which makes it one of the better beverage options for expectant mothers looking for something beyond water. That said, there are a couple of nuances worth knowing, particularly around gluten sensitivity and a compound found in malted (sprouted) barley that can affect hormone levels.
Why Barley Tea Works Well During Pregnancy
The biggest advantage of barley tea for pregnant women is simple: zero caffeine. Most health guidelines recommend staying under 200 mg of caffeine per day during pregnancy, which means constantly tracking your intake from coffee, green tea, black tea, and even chocolate. Barley tea sidesteps that math entirely. It’s made from roasted barley grains steeped in water, not from the tea plant, so caffeine is never part of the equation.
Barley tea also contains minerals and has been specifically recommended as a pregnancy-friendly drink by medical professionals in Japan, where it’s a household staple (known as mugicha). Whole barley is rich in B vitamins, iron, zinc, and manganese, though exactly how much of those nutrients make it into your cup after roasting and steeping isn’t well established. The tea also contains antioxidants like vanillic acids, though roasting the barley before brewing does reduce antioxidant activity somewhat.
Roasted Barley vs. Malted Barley: An Important Distinction
Standard barley tea is made from roasted, ungerminated barley grains. This is the type you’ll find in tea bags at most grocery stores and Asian markets. It’s the version that’s widely considered safe in pregnancy.
Malted barley is a different product. Malting means the barley grains have been allowed to sprout before being dried. This sprouted form contains alkaloids, including a compound called hordenine, that actively lower prolactin levels. Prolactin is the hormone responsible for milk production, and it also plays roles in maintaining pregnancy. In animal studies, these alkaloids significantly decreased prolactin levels by acting on dopamine receptors in the pituitary gland. Malted barley has actually been used in traditional medicine specifically to suppress lactation and treat conditions involving excess prolactin.
This doesn’t mean a sip of malt-based barley drink will cause problems, but it’s a meaningful enough biological effect that pregnant women should stick with standard roasted barley tea and avoid products made from malted or sprouted barley. Check the label: if it says “roasted barley” or just “barley,” you’re fine. If it mentions “malt” or “sprouted barley,” choose something else.
Gluten Is a Concern for Some
Barley is a gluten-containing grain, and that gluten does carry over into the tea. The National Celiac Association explicitly lists barley seed tea (including Korean boricha) as containing gluten. If you have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, barley tea is not safe for you, pregnant or not. This applies to all forms of barley tea, regardless of brand or preparation method.
If you need a caffeine-free, gluten-free alternative, rooibos tea and ginger tea are common substitutes during pregnancy.
How to Drink It During Pregnancy
Temperature matters more than you might think. Cold drinks can contribute to digestive discomfort during pregnancy, especially as your uterus puts more pressure on your stomach. Drinking barley tea at room temperature or warm is a better choice than iced, even during summer months.
There’s no established upper limit for how much barley tea you can drink per day during pregnancy, largely because it doesn’t contain caffeine or other compounds that require dosing limits. That said, it’s still mostly water with trace minerals, so it works best as part of your normal fluid intake rather than as a supplement. Drinking it the way you’d drink water throughout the day is perfectly reasonable.
What to Look for When Buying
Barley tea is sold under several names depending on the country of origin. Japanese mugicha, Korean boricha, and Chinese dàmài chá are all the same basic drink: roasted barley steeped in water. Most commercial versions come as loose grains or tea bags and contain nothing but barley. Still, check the ingredients list for added flavorings, sweeteners, or other herbs, some of which may not be pregnancy-safe.
If you’re buying bottled barley tea, look for versions without added sugar. Some ready-to-drink brands include sweeteners or other tea blends that could introduce small amounts of caffeine. A plain, single-ingredient barley tea is your simplest and safest option.